Saint Mary's Tower

Saint Mary's Tower
Torri ta' Santa Marija
Part of the Wignacourt towers
Comino, Malta

Saint Mary's Tower

Map of St. Mary's Tower
Coordinates 36°00′24.8″N 14°19′47.2″E / 36.006889°N 14.329778°E / 36.006889; 14.329778
Type Bastioned coastal watchtower
Site information
Owner Government of Malta
Controlled by Din l-Art Ħelwa
Open to
the public		 Yes
Condition Intact
Site history
Built 1618
Built by Order of Saint John
In use 1618–1829
1982–2002
Materials Limestone
This article is about the tower on Comino. For the one in Xgħajra, see Santa Maria delle Grazie Tower.

Saint Mary's Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Santa Marija), also known as the Comino Tower (Maltese: Torri ta' Kemmuna), is a large bastioned watchtower on the island of Comino in Malta. It was built in 1618, the fifth of six Wignacourt towers. The tower was used by the Armed Forces of Malta until 2002, and it is now in the hands of Din l-Art Ħelwa.

The tower is a prominent landmark of Comino, and can be clearly seen from both Malta and Gozo, as well as from the ferry between the islands.[1]

History

Saint Mary's Tower was built in 1618 to defend the island of Comino since ships travelling between Malta and Gozo were often attacked by Barbary corsairs based on the cliffs and creeks of Comino. It also served as a communications link between the island of Gozo and mainland Malta in case of an attack on Gozo.

Funds for its construction were raised primarily by means of the sale of Comino brushwood, and the total cost was 18,628 scudi, 5 tari and 10 grani, which made it the most expensive of all the towers. However, the high costs were probably due to the difficulties for transportation and construction on a barren island.

The tower's architect is unknown. In 1647, Giovanni Francesco Abela claimed that it was designed by Vittorio Cassar,[2] but this is extremely unlikely since Cassar was dead when work on the tower began.[3]

The tower is a large, square building with four corner turrets, and is located about 80 metres above sea level. The tower itself is about 12 metres tall, with walls that are approximately 6 metres thick, and is raised on a platform and plinth that are approximately 8 metres high. A musketry gallery was built on the plinth, but this no longer exists. Overall, the tower is higher than any of the other Wignacourt towers. The tower was surrounded by a ditch and glacis, the remains of which can still be seen today. A chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph is also located within the tower.[4]

During times of crisis, its garrison numbered up to 60 soldiers. By 1791, its armament included two 12-pound iron cannon, one 10-pound bronze cannon, one 4-pound bronze cannon, and two 3-pound bronze cannon. After 1715, Saint Mary's Battery and Saint Mary's Redoubt were also built around the coast of Comino, and these had a garrison of 130 men and housed eight 32-pounder and ten 24-pounder cannons, which dominated the North and South Comino Channels.

Comino Barracks, located just north of the tower

Later on, the Order also built a barrack block on Comino, a short distance away from the tower. The barracks were later used as an isolation hospital.[5]

In the 17th century, Comino served as a place of imprisonment or exile for errant knights. Knights who were convicted of minor crimes were occasionally sentenced to the lonely and dangerous task of manning St. Mary's Tower. During the French blockade of 1798–1800, St. Mary's Tower served as a prison by the Maltese insurgents and their British allies for suspected spies or French sympathizers. In 1799, the insurgents transferred the tower's cannons to blockade batteries to bombard French positions. Insurgent positions armed with cannons taken from Comino included Tas-Samra Battery[6] and Ta' Għemmuna Battery.[7]

The tower was abandoned by the British military in 1829. For several decades it was deemed to be property of the local civil authorities, and may have been used as an isolation hospital, or even as a wintering pen for farm animals. The tower again saw active service during both World War I and World War II.

Between 1982 and 2002, the tower was used by the Armed Forces of Malta. It served as a lookout and staging post to guard against contraband and the illegal hunting of migratory birds at sea.[8]

Present day

St. Mary's Tower was handed to Din l-Art Ħelwa in 2002 and was extensively restored by the organization between 2002 and 2004. It is now in very good condition, retaining many of its original features with the exception of the musketry gallery. It is also open to the public on a number of days in the week.

In popular culture

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "St. Mary's Tower". United Comino Ferries. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Schiavone, Michael J. (2009). Dictionary of Maltese Biographies Vol. 1 A-F. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet Indipendenza. p. 534. ISBN 9789993291329.
  3. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (2013). "In Defence of the Coast (I) - The Bastioned Towers". Arx - International Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (3): 50–57. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Scerri, John. "Kemmuna". malta-canada.com. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "History of Nursing in Malta Care of the Aged and Infirm" (PDF). Ministry for Health. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2009.
  6. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. (May 2008). "Maltese ‘siege’ batteries of the blockade 1798-1800" (PDF). Arx - Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (6): 23. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  7. ↑ The Appeals of the Nobility and People of Malta to the Justice, Public Faith, and Policy of the British Government, for the Fulfillment of the Conditions Upon which They Gave Up Their Island to the King, Namely Their Ancient Rights Under a Free Constitution. London: R. Lloyd. 1811. p. 32.
  8. ↑ Spiteri, Stephen C. "Sta. Maria Tower on Comino". Military Architecture. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Castles & Towers". MaltaPost. Retrieved 22 April 2015.

External links

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